EFFECT OF REGULAR CONSUMPTION OF OILY FISH COMPARED WITH WHITE FISH ON CHRONIC PLAQUE PSORIASIS

The influence of dietary advice on the severity of chronic plaque psor iasis was studied in 18 patients. Medication was standardized in all p atients who were advised to eat 170g white fish daily for a 4 week run -in period. Then the patients were randomized either to continue with the white fish diet or to substitute 170g oily fish daily for 6 weeks. At the end of this second period the diets were reversed for a furthe r 6 weeks. The oily fish but not the white fish diet led to a modest c linical improvement (11% and 15%, P < 0.01) which was accompanied by a rise in plasma eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) concentrations. It is concluded that dietary advice to increase the daily intake of oily fis h is a useful adjunct in the treatment of psoriasis. The fish that sho uld be recommended include mackerel, sardine, salmon, pilchard, kipper and herring.